Ecclesiastes. 3:1

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens�

This is a time of great change for the Aheria people of India. The younger generation is getting a better education than their parents ever had. They have access to information through the Internet that was never available to past generations. How will they respond? With change, there is the opportunity to both move forward and a chance to stagnate.

Pray that the Aheria people will move forward in the years to come and find their place in India’s rapidly modernizing economy. Pray that they will allow Christ to guide them in this process.

Aheria People

by CL

“But Father, I don’t want to marry him!” “You must. We have already agreed upon the price.” “I’m only 16! And I don’t love him!”

“Do you think marriage is like something you see in a Bollywood movie? The marriage has been arranged. There will be no more discussion. Stop thinking like a Westerner.”

Like most communities in India, the Aheria people have had arranged marriages for hundreds of years. However, this may soon be changing. Armed with cell phones, Facebook accounts, and better education, Aheria youth may soon rebel and “ban” arranged marriages.

The Aherias were once hunters. In fact, their name is derived from the word ahera, which is believed to have come from the name of hunting games organized by Rajput princes. When hunting was banned in the 1920s, the Aheria turned to farming in their struggle to survive. (See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aheria).

There are about 140,000 Aheria, and they are almost all Hindus who live in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. There are no known followers of Christ among them.

Pray for this season of change to be an opportunity for the Aheria people to hear and respond to the gospel in a way that will improve their lives and the lives of others. Pray for a spiritual awakening among the Aheria people. Pray for Aherias of all ages to put their faith in Christ.